Toothbrush which dispenses toothpaste

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush which contains a toothpaste cartridge cavity located within its hollow or split handle into which a toothpaste cartridge is inserted. An outlet bore runs from the toothpaste cartridge nozzle to the bristle portion of the toothbrush. Movement of a thumb slide mounted on the handle causes the toothpaste cartridge to be compressed so that toothpaste is ejected from the cartridge through the outlet bore and onto the bristles of the toothbrush.

United States Patent 1191 Drohomirecky TOOTHBRUSH WHICH DISPENSES TOOTHPASTE [76] Inventor: Walter Drohor'nirecky, 164 5th Street, Rankin, Pa. 15104 [22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 73,421

[52] U.S.Cl ..40l/l55 [51] lnt.Cl. ..A46b1l/02 [58] Field of Searh..401/155;222/9 5, 105; 132/848 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,175 s/mo Kelly ..40|/1ss 2,820,979 1/1958 Herter ..222/95 818,000 4/1906 Stevenson ..401/155 2,536,968 2/1951 Tirocchietal. ..40l/155 2,960,092 11/1960 Francolino ..222/95 1,768,301

6/1930 Weber "1.132184 B 14 1 Jan. 23, 1973 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,158,903 2/1958 France ..401/155 54,996 3/191 1 Switzerland ....40 1/155 3,543 2/1914 Great Britain ..40ll155 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Attorney-Webb, Burden, Robinson & Webb [5 7 1 ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAN 23 1915 3.712747 SHEET 1 0F 2 l N l/E N TOR. Drohomireck y Y Wwb M Mia/M l5 ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAHZB I973 w 2 OF 2 3.712.747

VIII/Ag:

IN VE N TOR. Walter Drahomireclry BY WM M M aw.

HIS ATTORNEYS TOOTIIBRUSII WIIICI'I DISPENSES TOOTIIPASTE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to a new toothbrush device and, more particularly, to a toothbrush which dispenses toothpaste onto its bristles from a toothpaste cartridge positioned within its handle.

In toothbrushes of the general type known heretofore, the toothpaste is applied to the bristles from a toothpaste dispensing source apart and independent from the toothbrush. The person applying the toothpaste must maintain a close alignment between the bristles of the toothbrush and the toothpaste cartridge so that the toothpaste being ejected from the cartridge is not wasted due to spillage. This is particularly a problem with younger children.

Prior attempts have been made to design a fountaintype toothbrush, but these have proved unsuccessful due to their complicated structural designs and inefficient or difficult-to-operate dispensing means. I have overcome these various problems with my invention. In my invention the toothpaste is ejected directly onto the bristles, thereby eliminating the possibility of spillage.

The present invention also affords another advantage over prior art toothbrushes in that the time required to dispense toothpaste onto the bristles is reduced since it is not necessary to uncap and recap the toothpaste cartridge as is required when using the prior art toothbrush-toothpaste cartridge combination. In addition, preparation for travel is simplified in that a single unit includes both the toothbrush and the toothpaste. My invention. also provides a simple, yet efficient toothbrush having an integral dispensing means.

My invention is a toothbrush having a hollow or split handle to accommodate a toothpaste cartridge. A thumb slide slidably mounted in a longitudinal slot on the handle operates to compress the toothpaste cartridge and eject toothpaste through an outlet bore onto the bristles.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 have shown my presently preferred embodiments in which:

FIG. 1 is aplan view of the toothbrush showing a toothpaste cartridge positioned within the handle member;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the toothbrush having a push fit cover member;

FIG. 3 is an end view taken FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken respectively along lines IV-IV and V-V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the toothbrush showing a pivotally mounted cover or split handle member;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of FIG. 6; i

FIG. 8 is a partial cut-away side view showing a shutoff gate valve;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away side view showing a clean-out slide in the outlet bore;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view showing the clean-out slide of FIG. 9}

FIG. 11 is a partial cut-away side view showing a head member coupled to a handle member by a from line III--III of FIG.

. threaded, screw-type connection; and

FIG. 12 is a partial cut-away side view showing a head membercoupled to a handle member by a pressfit.

My toothbrush includes a head member, generally designated 5, a handle member, generally designated 10, and a thumb slide arrangement 13. The head member, which contains the bristles 15; can be detachably connected to the handle 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 l and 12, or may be integral with the handle 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The head member 5 has an outlet bore 12 extending from the end of the head member 5 adjacent the handle member 10, through the head member 5 and exiting among the bristles 15.

The handle member 10 is hollow to form the toothpaste cavity 20 into which a toothpaste cartridge 30 is inserted. The toothpaste cartridge 30 is preferably a standard toothpaste tube thereby permitting easy replacement. As will be described in detail hereinafter, the toothpaste cartridge 30 is positioned in the cavity 20 so that the nozzle 21 of cartridge 30 cooperates with the outlet bore 12 of head member 5 to permit toothpaste to be ejected therethrough onto the bristles l5.

Toothpaste leakage varound the nozzle 21 is prevented by the annular shaped, counter bore 38 located at the toothpaste cartridge nozzle-outlet bore interface, as shown in FIGS. 1 and2. It will be recognized that other forms of sealing means can be employed to effectively eliminate leakage. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, force exerted on the thumb slide dispensing means 13 causes the toothpaste cartridge to be compressed toward the head member 5 whereby the open end of nozzle 21 is pressed tightly against the bearing surface of the counter bore 38 so as to form a sea] at that point and thus prevent the leakage of toothpaste around the nozzle.

The handle member 10 has a top surface 11 which has a longitudinal slot 19 running substantially the length of surface 11. This slot 19 accommodates the thumb-slide arrangement 13. This thumb-slide arrangement consists of a planar upper surface upon which the thumb is positioned for pushing movement. A web section depends downwardly from the planar upper surface and is slidably positioned in slot 19 and terminates in an elongated lateral member 14, the web and lateral compressing member 14 forming an inverted T. The

ends of lateral compressing member 14 ride in align-- ment tracks 16 recessed into the inner walls of handle 10, see FIGS. 3 and 4.

As the thumb-slide arrangement 13 is moved toward the bristle portion 15, the compressing member 14 moves along alignment tracks 16 and slidably compresses the toothpaste cartridge 30 causing toothpaste to be ejected from the cartridge through the outlet bore 12 and onto the bristle portion 15.

To aid in the initial contact of compressing member '14 and the cartridge 30, the bottom interior surface of handle 10 is curved upwardly at its rear end so that the cartridge 30 is forced upward and into starting engagement with compressing member 14, see FIG. 2.

There are several embodiments by which the handle member can be opened to allow the insertion and removal of a toothpaste cartridge.

The upper surface 11 of handle 10 may be in the form of a cover plate, as shown in FIG. 2. This cover plate at its forward end has downwardly depending peripheral flanges 29 which snugly fit over the sides of handle 10, see FIG. 5, and at its rearward end the cover plate fits snugly against upwardly depending flange 31 positioned at the rear of handle 10, see FIG. 2. In other words, a press fit is formed.

The cover 11 may also be pivotably connected to the handle 10, as shown at 17 in FIGS. 6 and 8. The pivotable connections 17 is formed by inwardly disposed lugs 32 in cover 1 l which fit into mating recesses 33 in handle 10, see FIG. 7.

The head member may also be threadably coupled to the hollow handle member as shown in FIG. 11. Threads 35 on the outside surface of the head member 5 mate with threads 34 on the inside diameter of the handle member 10. The head member 5 can thereby be removed from the handle member 10 by a twisting force, thus allowing the insertion or removal of a toothpaste cartridge 30 into or from the toothpaste cartridge cavity 20. i

The head member 5 may also be detachably connected to the hollow handle member 10 by means of a press fit, as shown in FIG. 12. Outwardly depending peripheral flanges 36 and 37 are formed on the open end of the head member 5 and the open end of the handle member 10, respectively. The outside diameter of the head member flange 36 and the inside diameter of the handle member flange 37 are closely matched so that a snug fit is achieved when they are pressed together.

A shut-off gate valve 18 can be employed to block the passage of toothpaste in the outlet bore 12. The gate valve is slidably mounted in a mating slot in the hollow handle member 10 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the outlet bore 12. In the closed position, the gate valve 18 seals the outlet bore 12 thereby preventing the toothpaste from hardening in the area of the toothpaste cartridge nozzle 21.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a clean-out slide 22 slidably mounted in a recessed guide in the bottom surface of the head member 5 and in communication with the outlet bore 12. In the event toothpaste becomes hardened in the outlet bore, the clean-out slide can be opened to allow the removal of the hardened toothpaste.

lclaim:

l. A toothbrush which dispenses toothpaste compris- A. a head member having bristles depending outwardly therefrom and an outlet bore extending from an end thereof through the head member and exiting among the bristles;

B. a handle member attached to the head member having a toothpaste cartridge cavity and an annular counterbore communicating with said outlet bore located at the outlet bore-cartridge cavity interface, said counterbore shaped to receive the open end of a toothpaste cartridge nozzle in such a manner that the forward end of the nozzle sealably seats against the internal annular surface of the counterbore, said handle member also having a longitudinal slot through its surface communicating with the toothpaste cartridge cavity and running substantially the length of the handle member, and said handle member also having a pair of diametrically opposite alignment tracks recessed into the inner wall of said handle member extending longitudinally along the length of the toothpaste cartridge cavity; C. means corresponding with the toothpaste cartridge cavity for gaining access to said cavity to allow the insertion of a toothpaste cartridge into the handle member;

D. a thumb-slide dispensing means including a rod shaped compressing member and a planar upper surface member connected thereto, said planar upper surface member slidably positioned in the longitudinal slot of the handle member, the ends of said compressing member slidably positioned in the alignment tracks within the interior of the toothpaste cartridge cavity, so that when the planar upper surface member of the thumbslide is moved toward the head member, the compressing member compresses the toothpaste cartridge, forcing the nozzle of the cartridge into a sealable position at the nozzle-counterbore interface and also causing the toothpaste to be ejected through the outlet bore and onto the bristles; and

E. a clean out slidably mounted on the bottom surface of the head member opposite the bristle surface, said clean out slide positioned adjacent the outlet bore so as to allow access to substantially the entire interior of the head member and outlet bore.

2. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein the access means comprises a cover plate detachably mounted on the handle member by a press fit.

3. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein the access means comprises a press fit connection between the head member and the handle member.

' u v v UNITED STATES PATENT @FFECE CERTWECATE or @QREQTWN Patent No. 3, 747 I Dated January 23, 1973 Inventor (X) I Walter Drol'lornireicky It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Claim 1, Column 4 Line 18 --corresponding-- should read --cooperating--. Claim 1, Column 4 Line 37 --a clean out slidablyshould read -,-a, clean out slide slidably--.

SignedLan-d sealed this :29th day of May l973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.PLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM USCOMM-DC sows-ps9 v U,S. GOVERNMENT PRlNTING OFFICE: 1569 366"334 

1. A toothbrush which dispenses toothpaste comprising: A. a head member having bristles depending outwardly therefrom and an outlet bore extending from an end thereof through the head member and exiting among the bristles; B. a handle member attached to the head member having a toothpaste cartridge cavity and an annular counterbore communicating with said outlet bore located at the outlet borecartridge cavity interface, said counterbore shaped to receive the open end of a toothpaste cartridge nozzle in such a manner that the forward end of the nozzle sealably seats against the internal annular surface of the counterbore, said handle member also having a longitudinal slot through its surface communicating with the toothpaste cartridge cavity and running substantially the length of the handle member, and said handle member also having a pair of diametrically opposite alignment tracks recessed into the inner wall of said handle member extending longitudinally along the length of the toothpaste cartridge cavity; C. means corresponding with the toothpaste cartridge cavity for gaining access to said cavity to allow the insertion of a toothpaste cartridge into the handle member; D. a thumb-slide dispensing means including a rod shaped compressing member and a planar upper surface member connected thereto, said planar upper surface member slidably positioned in the longitudinal slot of the handle member, the ends of said compressing member slidably positioned in the alignment tracks within the interior of the toothpaste cartridge cavity, so that when the planar upper surface member of the thumb-slide is moved toward the head member, the compressing member compresses the toothpaste cartridge, forcing the nozzle of the cartridge into a sealable position at the nozzle-counterbore interface and also causing the toothpaste to be ejected through the outlet bore and onto the bristles; and E. a clean out slidably mounted on the bottom surface of the head member opposite the bristle surface, said clean out slide positioned adjacent the outlet bore so as to allow access to substantially the entire interior of the head member and outlet bore.
 2. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein the access means comprises a cover plate detachably mounted on the handle member by a press fit.
 3. A toothbrush as recited in claim 1 wherein the access means comprises a press fit connection between the head member and the handle member. 